I am trying desperately to find information about my maternal grandfather. His name was Robert Spence. His death occurred somewhere between 1945 and 1955. What route should I take to obtain the information I require.

You can request a death records search from Service Ontario and use the result to order a death certificate.  Anyone can apply for a short form death certificate but next-of-kin (proof required) can request a long form which will be certified and include more information.

My uncle name was Edward Conway born 1921 died 1945, in India served in the Canadian army. Married to Gladys Margaret Conway of London, Ontario. My question is how do I go about finding their children, and their children's children.

First, check out our How can I find someone in Ontario who may, or may not be deceased? post as the tips included there will work here as well.

To the list of things to check include London city directories (available at London Public Library). Start with the last known year of contact (1945?) and search forward to see if they remained in the city or not.

If Edward died while serving in the Canadian Army you can request a copy of his service file from Library & Archives Canada.

Are there online, directories for trades & professions for the period 1920-1944 for Ontario?

Directories known to be online are linked from our links page (if readers know of any others please leave a comment).

Some directories are available to search in person at Library & Archives Canada but for most you will have to visit a library in the area of research or have someone visit on your behalf.

The Toronto Public Library's Ask A Librarian service will search three years of Toronto directories per request.

I would like to find a sibling placed for adoption. How would I go about locating this individual?

The first step for anyone seeking a sibling or child placed for adoption in Ontario is the website Access to Adoption Records Act maintained by the government. From there you can apply to the Adoption Disclosure Registry. This registry exists to bring together adoptees and birth relations and is free to use.

While awaiting a match, if the adoptee was placed through the Children's Aid Society you can apply for non-identifying information. There are also numerous internet sites set up for this type of search where you can post your information and hope the adoptee sees it and gets in touch. Be sure to also seek out local adoption groups (such as Parent Finders) for advice and support.

Is there a database/website in Canada similar to the Social Security Death Index in the USA, and if so what time period does it cover and where do I access it?

No, Canada does not have a similar database.  We do have Social Insurance but those records remain private.

Can anyone point me in the right direction to locate info regarding female inmates convicted of adultery in the 1940's in Ontario?

Help! Do you have an answer to this question? Please post a comment.

I am looking for a death index for Welland County that covers 1947-1960. Where can I find this?

For the 1947-1960 time period the earliest you would be able to access a death index is 2019 and only for the year 1947 (1948 would be available in 2020, 1949 in 2021, and so on). As explained on our page for Death Records there is a privacy law restricting the release of death registrations for 72 years unless you are next-of-kin or the legal representative of the deceased.

An alternative would be to seek out cemetery records. See:

OCFA

Niagara Branch OGS

CanadaGenWeb's Cemetery Project

Where do I begin to seek to trace one of my relatives who was a senior police officer between 1940- 1965

If you know for what force, write to them (city police, write to the city force; rural police, write to the Ontario Provincial Police).

In 1918 Why did a person have to carrie a CANADA Registration Board card? What are the numbers for in the top right hand corner for?

The Canada Registration Board was established in 1918 to compile information about individuals for the purpose of citizenship, pensions, or other important things. All Canadians were required to register (think of it much like today's Social Insurance), and the information compiled prior to 1940 is available only to the registered person. The National Registration of 1940 was the first to be available for search by anyone willing to pay a fee.

The number on the top right would likely be this person's registration number.

my father was born on Jan. 5th 1948 in Fort Williams ONTario. He was adopted shortly after birth. HE recently has passed and we just found out that he was adopted. His adopted parents are also passed. I would like to find out the name of his birth mother. How would i go about this???

Contact the Adoption Disclosure Register, they'll be able to help you.

Adoption Disclosure Register
Ministry of Community and Social Services/Ministry of Children's Services
2 Bloor Street West, 24th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M7A 1E9
Tel: (416) 327-4730
Fax: (416) 327-0573

[From Cathy] You could also check out adoption reunion registries. There maybe an aunt or uncle looking for you - even cousins. Here is the best one for Canadians. It is free.

How do I find out if someone married, and died in Ontario between 1930-1940. where to write, how many years will be searched, and cost? Thanks

If this someone married 82+ years ago or died 72+ years ago you can search the Ontario Vital Statistics for their marriage and/or death registration (available at LDS Family History Centres worldwide, as well as libraries with access to inter-library loan). If they married or died within the past 82/72 years you will have to apply to the Registrar General's Office in Thunder Bay and provide proof that you are next-of-kin. They will do a 3-5 year search for a fee on top of the certificate fee. See Ontario.ca for more information about the process & fees. For more information on marriages & deaths see our vital statistics page and cemetery records page for more information.

I remember seeing a form on the web that you could order to receive information about individuals living in Ontario. The questionaire was done in the 1940s and included the name of each person in the home as well as their parents name and place of birth. Any help you could supply would be appreciated.

Information about the National Registration of 1940 can be found at Global Genealogy

Where would one look to find farms that were around in the 40' + 50's? Ont Fed Agri doesn't have that info.

It depends what you are looking for. If you're looking for a list of all farms in Ontario, you're out of luck. If you're looking for a specific farm and know the approximate area where it may be located, check the city directories of surrounding areas, check land records, and most of all check the libraries in the area for a history of that township. Some genealogy societies have compiled land histories that document whom has lived on what plot of land and when. Most of these publications are available in local libraries or through the genealogy society that published them.

I wish to write to the Dept of Nationa Defence regarding World War II records. What is their address? Thank you.

Personnel Records Unit
Researcher Servies Division
National Archives of Canada
Client Services & Communciation Branch
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0N3
Take Note: If the individual in question has been deceased less than 20 years, only a limited amount of information will be provided. Proof of death & your relationship (you must be next of kin) to that person is required. If the individual in question has been deceased more than 20 years and did not die during their military service, proof of death is required.